fire away.

1) What is your name, and how old are you?
2) What is your poker story?
3) Lifetime graph?
4) What is your favorite movie?
5) Who/What is your favorite artist/song?
6) What is your favorite sport?
7) Drink of choice?
8) When you get it AI with AK and villain has QJ, do you scream "come on ace, come on king" or "no queen, no jack"?

All I can think of for now. Will probably think of more later Thank you for doing this

ill do the backstory first:

Poker Backstory: (cliffnotes at bottom)

I started playing poker like 1month before I left for college (so about 4years and change from now). I played in a friendly homegame with some kids from highschool. I would feel comfortable saying I was the worst poker player alive at this time. I for some odd reason could not understand how this “unlimited texas hold them” was played. I didn't understand the 'best 5card hand' either. I would get very confused that J4 = JT on J55QK (hell, I had J4 and was still arguing that I should lose the hand =) ).

the first weekend of college we had a 'meet-n-greet' with our hallway. I met a kid there that played poker sometimes, and he said we should set up a lil tourny just to meet some new ppl and play some cards. I was all for this! We set up a 2table SNG that weekend, and I met quite a few ppl thru that I'm friends with today at that initial game. That 2table SNG continued throughout the semester, and eventually ran twice a week. I feel comfortable saying that again, I was terrible. However, towards the end of that first semester, and after blowing a few hundred between PokerStars ($50 at a time, gone in 50minutes, like clockwork) and these $5 friendly SNGs, I knew I needed to do something. So I picked up an old Sklansky advanced LHE book, and started learning some basic concepts.

At this same time my friends an I were going to the casino (Turnings Stone, cuz I went to college at SU) to play as well. Now, this was first semester of college, and I think I had like $1K to my name. There was a lil gimmick bus to get students to go to the casino (they gave u like $20 in comps and drove u back-n-forth)...so my friends and I all did it one weekend. All my friends went to play poker (I think 1/3 limit LOL, and 1/2NL)...I however played 'Let it Ride'...some very high house advantage game. Now...my grandma always told me to “never bet what u can't lose, and keep it fun”...lol...well that's good advice...but apparently I had an issue. I drain through the $300 I bought to play with (LOL bankroll managements), an run to get another $200 from the ATM. I get back to the table, and drain through most of that. I literally have $60 left on the table, and min bet is $10/spot (have to play all 3spots, but can take back 2 spots as the hand goes on). I place my bets out, slowroll my hand to peek 999 (already getting a decent payday on that). I obviously hold all bets, and the community brings a nice 9 on it. +$1500!!! Can't complain about that...though this would be the start of something really bad.

So I begin going to the casino more. All the while I'm reading poker books and improving slowly, but I'm spending most of my time doing -EV gambling and then making it all back in SNG grinding. I was on Bodog at that time and began crushing SNGs, not that it was very hard to do so. I also started playing cashgames, and got ruined doing so. I played in a few dorm games 2nd semester, and I would get ruined every session. I would guess I probably lost about $1K to that game, which was a decent amount back then (an still is today, but obvi I'm much more resilient to it now). But, this taught me something...that I suck at NLHE cashgames =)

By the end of the semester I was going to the casino a few times a week. My worst fit of it was finals week. I finished a final at 5p in the afternoon and was at the casino by 6p. I played till 10a (played everything from 1/2NL to 5/10/20NL), got back to the dorm and showered/ate, took a final at noon, and was back to the casino by 1p. I kind of assumed I had an issue at this point. I loved -EV gambling, and it was effecting me emotionally as well. I loved when the summer finally came and I was far from the casino (I didnt want to have a gambling problem, I just couldn't really help myself, so being away from the casino was a Godsend). I did do some sports betting during this summer (I couldn't watch a game I didn't have action on, which is why I don't really watch/follow sports anymore). So I just grinded my job and SNGs that summer...made some decent money, then back to school in the fall.

At this time my GF of 2yrs an I had just broken up. So right to the casino with me!!! I think the first week of school I dropped like $5K (most of that in a 2day stretch). Now, this was done playing 1/2NL (100max) and $33 SNGs. This means that I lost ~20BIs cash and ~100BIs in SNGs in 2 days. I don't know if you can comprehend that...but thats insane. Like, the sickest thing I've ever done. I realized at this point I had a major gambling issue. I went to the casino, rolled my last game of dice, and would never do -EV gambling again (~2.5years now!!!). I was very proud of myself for fixing this issue myself...as the discipline I learned from this has changed me forever.

Now, after I cleared up my little gambling issue, I was still itching for action. So I decided I would play a game with intense action, but where the edge could still be +EV. So I learned PLO8 (also where my 2p2 handle comes from). I had always loved PLO (I mean hell, 4 cards!!! 2x the cards = 2x the possibilities!). I read an article by Annie Duke about the value of hands that go 2ways, and I ran with it. I grinded up a small $300 bankroll from working over springbreak, and told myself that I was gonna do this the right way. So I put $200 back on Bodog and started grinding out 25PLO8. This was very stressful playing so shortrolled, but my edge was sick at this time. So I grinded out like 1K in that game, then put $500 over to Party, and ruined that game as well (under my fav name to date “Im_OFFuLL”). After Party shut down, I moved action to Bodog and then over to FTP.

At this point (prolly about 2 years ago today) the PLO8 games were starting to get a lil dry as people were either figuring the game out or leaving. I had a friend living with me over the summer that was a HUNLHE specialist. He convinced me to work on my NLHE game cuz all the money had shifted back over there. So I spent the next 2 weeks figuring out how NLHE works. I was able to bring over some of the concepts from PLO8 (pot manipulation and position possibilities mostly) and read NLTAP over twice. I started playing deep6max (.15/.30) and crushed it. (ran like 22pt/100 over 7K). Decided I would do better at 100bb, so moved to 50NL 6max. Grinded it out for like 50K hands...did well, but wasn't enjoying playing that style (the variance was killing me). So I switched over to 50NL FR on FTP, and really started doing well. Grinded that out for 3.5pt/100 over 60K hands, and moved up to 100NL. Took me a few tries to finally get the hang of it (I'm never afraid to drop down...I don't bring ego to this game), but I finally got it on my 4th attempt. Made 100NL my full-time home and and would take shots at 200NL. I got bored with this after awhile and wanted to learn how to SS for a bit.

SS-ing was ok. I did it mostly to see what all the hype was about, to think about different ranges, and b able to play 20-30tables. I did it for like 50K hands (100nl-1Knl), and decided I would go back to fullstacking (this was like 6mo ago?). The only real cool thing about SS-ing was the megatabling. I'm still considering doin a 40tabling stint for awhile in the upcoming months...but I'm not 100% sure. I still SS on occasion, but I don't love doing.

I've been playing FR for about 1.5yrs now. My lifetime winnings probably hover around 35K-40K with everything included (SNGs+MTTs+Cash). I think I'm constantly evolving my game, and I really take an interest in learning new things. As of now I'm a professional poker player, but I don't want to grind this game my entire life (though I never wanna not play it again either). I think this game has been eye-opening in a lot of ways (I'm much more logical now, I can think deeper than ever before, and it makes me focus on +EV situations) and I don't see myself abandoning it ever. Though I am torn on teaching my kids this game early, but I'll figure that out when I get there =)

Cliffnotes:

1.)play homegames + SNGs at college
2.)win at casino (trouble brewin')
3.)gambling addiction! (storm hit!)
4.)fix gambling addiction (nice!)
5.)learn PLO8 and grindcore
6.)move to NLHE (6max)
7.)don't like 6max, move to FR
8.)move from 50 to 100
9.)SS for awhile (hate life)
10.)grindcore

1.) James, 22
2.) posted
3.) couldnt find all the hands if i tried. but +$35K-$40K thru live/online cash, mtts, sng
4.) Stranger than Fiction (Will Ferrel in a serious role, and the message in the movie is really solid)
5.) couldnt answer that if i tried cuz ima a complete music-nut. give me a genre and i can fire a few songs and such off
6.) to play: tennis. to watch: football (tho dont watch much anymore)
7.) i dont drink too often. but beer: Bud Light (classy, i know). vodka: goose. mixxed drink: Orange Alize+OJ (best 'buzzkeeper' ever, and extremely ghey)
8.) just say "F***". back when i played PLO8 i didnt have to time to say which cards i wanted or didnt want...so id just suffice with the Fbomb...an not much has changed

- Poker Goals?
- What strengths do you feel you have at the table?
- What weaknesses do you feel you have at the table?
- Best piece of advice you ever received?

thanks for the informative story SS. You should post that in your blog. Btw, i enjoy the blogand FR videos. keep em coming.

Favourite 2+2 threads? Links please

I watched one of your videos the other day and your bet sizing seems a little non standard. Have you always done this or is there a reason behind it that made u change to it?

What are you doing in real life? Any ambitions to have a career in poker?

1.) bet sizing, pot manipulation and control, and overall range reading ability

2.) i dont feel i maxamize against regs the way i should. still working on that

3.) "your hand has value, WHY THE F*** ARE YOU TRYYING TO KILL IT?!"

Thanks! I think ill drag blog readers here tho...cuz that post wud murderface my blog. glad u like the vids and such =)

At an average table of weakish players........

do you ever limp pre flop if first in ?

utg opening requirements ? any pair ? fold AQ ?

3 bet requirements from cutoff or on the button if faced with EP raiser

assume 2 limpers what are your raising requirements on the button ?

ill see if i can find more...but here are some for now:

Pokey's Risk of Ruin

VeganMav's Adventure

ChaCha thread

i dont bookmark very many strat posts...so a lot of my fav's are more tilt-reducers =)



The betsizing is something ive been working on for about 125K hands. its sumtin new that im constantly tweaking. thoughts?

Moving out to Vegas in a month. i have friends out there already, so im looking foward to that. probably going to get a "real job" when i get out there, but still play 40-100hrs of poker/month. i have my BS in marketing, and id like to avoid a severe resume gap if possible, so having stable income coupled with poker should be very lucrative if i "play my cards right" (wow...that was corny as hell)

Why do you run so badly? What are the best ways you've found to deal with and handle tilt? Did you ever record yourself saying "riggiggity" and scratch it on a record? Any relation to Quagmire?

if table is weak...no.

pairs are good, and AQ is crap =)

depends on the raiser. the tighter they are the more i wanna flat call an play a pot in position v. their very concrete range

assuming weak limpers, ATC. assuming looser, hands with more direct value than implied value

Grunching, but its only because I urgently need an answer.

Why do I suck at the pokers so much!!

1.) i dunno. maybe i used all my 'run-good juice' in other facets of life

2.) sex, video games, and introspection

3.) naw. tho good idea =)

4.) nope. tho i get that a lot. just a named i thought was funny at the time. i wish i cud change my name often like u cud on Party, but o well...

*The SplitSuit Axiom*

"take a players vpip and add it to their pfr. the number you get from this calculation is the %chance that that person will win the pot"

adapt to this strategy

Stranger than fiction *thumbs*

any one 2 + 2 poster that changed your game for good?
Favorite poker book?
How do you table select?
Biggest online downswing?
Greatest achievement playing poker?
Worst?

Ever consider 6max?

Is there currently a Ms. Split Suit?

Who is our next president (and perhaps a different answer, who do you think is most fit)

What do you tell people when they ask what you do for a living? Does anybody understand?

Funnest poker hand of note?

A supreme being will strike you down unless you choose only ONE casino house game to ever play again. What game do you choose?

I think changing the name to the Syracuse Orange is pretty lame. Discuss.

do you feel like you will be able to make it to 5/10+ ? or just grind out a decent annual at msnl? (sorry if you answered this, waaay tl;dr tho)

- want to play HU for 15-20BI? (not like a diss thingy, just seems like it would be fun + i can post about how i owned you

*thumbs* = u like or dislike?

1.) everyone helpd. Buzz/Phil helped me in PLO8. in FR id say Cwar was a huuuuge help, and also Rdy4theFiesta (my roommate from college)...cuz i cud bounce ideas/concepts off them easily.

2.) NLTAP by a long shot

3.) # of SS's (no more than 3, no more than 2 solid ones on my right), # of solid regs (no more than 3 assuming rest of the table is normal. ill sit at a table of all regs so long as 1 80/20 is there)

4.) 18BI

5a.) winning an MTT on bodog after playing shove/fold for 6hrs, and never doing anything else until final 6.

5b.) at a live MTT at TS we just got ITM...there was this really cool asian dude on my left (forget his name, but hes a 2p2 poster)...we get it aipf 6d6s v his 88. board was 8d 5d 7s 9d 7d. river spikes and he goes "yes, ship!"...i snap scream "straight flush b!tch" and start humping the table. lady from the next table over goes "thats a funny dance hes doing". i LOL...but felt really bad cuz the kid was really nice and i generally dont do things like that. o well....

1.) used to play 6max. it doesnt interest me atm though. i really dont want to have to relearn a different hand reading range right now

2.) not married, but GF of 7mo's, yes

3.) i wud like Obama. i think either wud fit in just fine tho

4.) depends who asks. personally i generally answer 'poker player and coach'...professionally i answer 'gaming consultant'. i get ppl tryying to mooch free coaching and stuff often cuz of that. also, i find it odd that this job, and possibly investing, are the only jobs where it is 100% acceptable to ask how much they make.

5.) ill have to get back to u on that. i dont get many funny hands...but i guess this one from last night made me LOL a bit

Full Tilt Poker $0.50/$1 No Limit Hold'em - 8 players
The Official 2+2 Hand Converter Powered By DeucesCracked.com

MP2: $68.70
Hero (CO): $100.00
BTN: $41.90
SB: $118.40
BB: $20.40
UTG: $79.75
UTG+1: $105.00
MP1: $119.55

Pre Flop: Hero is CO with A A
2 folds, MP1 raises to $3, MP2 calls $3, Hero raises to $15, 3 folds, MP1 calls $12, MP2 calls $12

Flop: ($46.50) T A Q (3 players)
MP1 checks, MP2 checks, Hero bets $36, MP1 calls $36, MP2 folds

Turn: ($118.50) 9 (2 players)
MP1 checks, Hero bets $49 all in, MP1 calls $49

River: ($216.50) 9



6.) if i cant choose poker, i guess id pick blackjack. only because u can cardcount and make it +EV (tho super small edge). i know i cant ever play games like that tho...x-gambling addict and all
(tho most fun game was def Craps. holy God the rush is insane)

7.) our mascot is a damn walking Orange. doesnt get much lamer than that. discuss.

1.) ill prolly cap out my poker playing at 1Knl online, and 10/20nl live. an yes, i think id b able to play 1Knl at some point, but wudnt till im very financially OK. kind of a bankroll nit, and i overvalue the concept of a psychological bankroll.

2.) give me 3months on that an we can prolly play some HU50nl (for 15-20BI, 4-8tabling) or something. my HU game is super crap right now, tho my roommate in Vegas is a HUspecialist...so ill get my game back quick once i get out there =) id embarass myself if i did it today.

*thumbs* = *thumbs up* quality film
I don't usually love "feel good" films but the whole concept and twist is great.

This thread is lacking pics, imo

side effect of FR obviously

- vegas good to live in? or do you feel too overwhelmed by all the gambol etc..?
I'm in NZ, and there so much good non-poker stuff to do...balance helps imo.